After dropping sharply at the beginning of the week, UK and European markets staged significant recoveries on Thursday and Friday. The recovery rallies were originally spurred by comments made by European Central Bank president, Mario Draghi.
On Thursday, Draghi insisted that he and his fellow central bankers would do everything they could to hold together the eurozone. “Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me, it will be enough,” said Draghi at a speech in London.
The upward market push continued on Friday "as European leaders rush(ed) to echo Mr. Draghi's comments ... Both Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande said that they would do everything to protect the euro," said Chris Beauchamp, a market analyst at IG Index.
The markets were also bouyant on Friday after the US released data showing the American economy continued to grow in the second quarter of 2012.
The US numbers were “better-than-expected,” according to Kathleen Brooks, research director at GAIN Capital. The numbers “showed that the US economy expanded by 1.5% in Q2 on an annualised basis. Although that is below the 1.9% rate in Q1 it was above the consensus (expectation for) 1.4%,” said Brooks.
“But will the GDP report alter the course of the FOMC meeting that concludes next Wednesday?” asks Brooks. In her opinion: yes.
“The Fed’s mandate is to provide full employment and keep the inflation rate under control ... (Therefore,) on balance the economic data does not suggest another round of quantitative easing is necessary from the Fed,” she said.
Beauchamp has a different view of the GDP figures, arguing that US growth is still at its slowest for a year, which will give hope to those expecting more quantitative easing.
Meanwhile, corporate earnings reports continued to flood the market, with Barclays (BARC) surprising to the upside.
“Barclays delighted shareholders by reporting a stronger than expected set of earnings,” said Joshua Raymond, chief market strategist at City Index. “The bank, continually under PR fire for the Libor manipulation scandal, reported pre-tax profits had increased 13% to £4.2 billion for the first half of the year, beating forecasts of £3.8 billion. That was enough to lift the bank’s share price... (pushing it to) the top of the FTSE leaderboard.” Shares in Barclay's shot up by 9% on Friday.
Other major FTSE 100 gainers from Thursday included auto-manufacturer Rolls-Royce (RR.) and consumer-goods company, Unilever (ULVR).
Market Performance (July 23-27):
FTSE 100 Index: -0.43%
FTSE 250 Index: +0.09%
FTSE UK All Share Index: -0.36%
FTSE Small-Cap Index: -0.08%
FTSE AIM 100 Index: -2.92%
FTSE Fledgling Index: -0.82%
See the daily market commentary articles from earlier in the week:
Monday: Spanish Fears Resurface and Markets Plunge
Tuesday: Spain Bailout Fears, Weak US Data Drag on FTSE
Wednesday: Flat Day for FTSE Belies Major Stock Moves
Thursday: Markets Rally After Comments from ECB's Draghi